November is over; here are its reviews in tidy haiku.
.
Homer and Langley
more like linked stories
brothers in isolation
a good back-up book
.
The Skating Rink
the “new” Bolaño
not new, but fresh to English
complex and shining
.
Genesis
assays sci-fi tropes
not as boring as it sounds
short, sweet, and clever
.
The Death of Bunny Munro
Cave has syntax strengths
too much Avril sex fancy
an appstore letdown
.
Shutter Island
a fun mind bender
the setting here steals the show
ending let us down
.
The Glister
come-of-age thriller
language plus plot don’t make two
execution lacks
.
Catch-22
synecdoche name
you read this book in high school
you’ll like it more now
.
The Posthuman Dada Guide: Tzara & Lenin Play Chess
mimetic in form
weird as you’d hope from Dada
beast of a title
.
This Is Where I Leave You
Tropper turns great phrase
The Big Chill meets the Griswolds
when life sucks go home
.
The Manual of Detection
a well plotted book
at times it’s a bit wordy
sample chapter one
.
The Naked and the Dead
a classic indeed
Mailer is a household name
but great as they say?
